Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

In need of a little quality family time, we headed to Tucson to visit the Sonora Desert Museum. What a place! The drive in was spectacular as the desert is alive with color-purple, white, orange, yellow....for anyone who thinks Arizona is a brown clump of tumbleweeds, this is the drive for you! Once we arrived at the museum, why they call it a museum I don't know since it's not like any museum I have ever been to, we got a map from a nice older gentleman and began our journey. We saw the friendliest hummingbirds in their own pavillion, an amazing aviary with more than 40 different species of birds(we even saw 4 snakes roaming the area freely...eek!)and many other fantastic exhibits. One of our favorite parts was visiting a show called Running Wild where the guide talked about creatures with feathers, fur or scales. Jack even got to "pet" his first snake! Relax, it was only a gopher snake! As we walked the trail, we appreciated the most amazing views of the green valley below, flowering cacti abound and the sounds of unseen creatures scurrying from bush to bush. Toward the end of our trip, we visited their Earth Sciences center and saw magnificient displays of gemstones and other natural minerals and Jack, being the budding scientist, looked through the lenses of his first microscope. He was so excited that he breathlessly said to me, "Mommy, this is magical!" Magical indeed!

For the Love of Cats

I think my love of cats, especially orange ones, has been genetically passed down to my son. He loves to pet them, hold them and yes, antagonize them by chasing them with firetruck, roaring in their faces like a dinosaur and occasionally loving them too fiercely. While the other cats usually scatter when Master Jack(Professor Tough Love)comes too close, my beloved 14 year old cat, Prince, seems resigned to his fate. Jack loves to carry him and boss him around...I guess that is what 3 year olds who don't have siblings do...they transfer that control to the poor unsuspecting animals. Here are a couple pics of Jack and Prince palling around in the backyard.

Ice Cream

I don't know that anyone on Earth can enjoy an icecream cone the way a 3 year old does. Jack bites, licks and nibbles on his cone all the while the chocolate ice cream drips on his fingers, the patio, his clothing. His face is covered it in, yet he continues to gobble it up and every so often mumbles an mmmm or an ahhhh in appreciation of its creamy goodness....no worries about getting the laundry done, what to cook for dinner, or paying the bills...just eating ice cream and enjoying every last bite.

The Great Outdoors

Our backyard has been getting alot of use lately. Jack has been enjoying playing the role of artist, making huge bubbles with daddy and playing in the sprinklers. Isn't my family adorable?(That was a rhetorical question!)

Cowboy Cutie

Someone asked me recently what my favorite part of motherhood is. It's the small stuff. The mini moments in life that add up to a lifetime of love and memories. It's when you put your child to bed at night and he says, "I love you Princess Charming." It's when he busts out with a huge belly laugh as a lizard squirms in his little fingers. It's when he tells you a story that can't possibly be true, but you listen, engaged, like it's the most important part of your day and he swells with pride and self confidence....I am a lucky woman because that is my everyday reality. Being with Jack makes me a better person. He makes me take the time to enjoy an icecream cone, giggle while running through the sprinkler and realize how precious human touch can be. For him, I am thankful.

Say Cheese!

More pics from the day!

Egg Hunt

The Easter Bunny hid 34 eggs in the backyard for Jack to find. Watching him run about with his little basket excitedly oohing and ahhing over each egg made me recall Easters past since Jack was born. His first Easter, I dressed him up in a fuzzy frog jacket and made him pose for pictures surrounded by little Easter eggs(a 9 week olds version of an egg hunt!) The next year, we hid a few eggs in the courtyard and a 14 month old Jack picked up each egg and dropped it again and we pointed them out for him. Last year, he gathered up the eggs in the backyard this time, but by the time all the eggs had been found, he was ready for it to be over...But this year was different. Lately, moments present themselves showing me that my baby is growing up and this was one of them. He needed very little help(we were kind of tricky with a few of the eggs)and became more and more excited with each find. After he had collected all the eggs(squealing and laughing all the way), he kept looking around the yard to see if he missed any. Genuine disappointment crossed his face when he realized it was over...I was disappointed too because this is the last Easter he will be who he is today. Next year, an entirely different kid will be on the hunt.